By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said that arrangements have been concluded for the conversion of Shiroro Hotel to a teaching hospital to provide tertiary healthcare services.
Governor Bago stated this in Minna when he flagged off the upgrading of a central medical store to pharmagrade standard and the distribution of 25 motorcycles as well as essential medicines to the primary health care centres in all the 25 local government areas in the state.
This is in partnership with the state and federal governments, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI).
Governor Umaru Bago said the contract agreement for the teaching hospital will be signed next week, and contractors will move to the site immediately.
He said his administration will come up with a policy of presenting awards to the best-performing health workers to encourage and boost their morale.
The governor then called on health workers to make more sacrifices and remain dedicated to their duties.
The governor appreciated all the development partners for their continued support and directed the ministry of finance to create a sinking fund that will cater for all health-related counterpart funds to ensure prompt payments.
The Commissioner for Primary Health Care, Dr. Ibrahim Dangana, explained that the motorcycles will be used for medical outreaches to reduce morbidity and mortality across the state.
Dr. Dangana, who commended the governor for his efforts so far in repositioning the ministry, said the governor has directed the release of N170 million out of N400 million for the revitalization of all the primary health care centres across the three geopolitical zones of the state, as well as the sum of N250 million to all the focal PHCs in all the wards in the state.
The Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health Care, Dr. Bello Tukur, said the Central Medical Store will be the best in North Central Nigeria and a hub for the distribution of hospital consumables for health facilities in the state.
The Chief of Field Office UNICEF Kaduna, Dr. Gerida Birukila, who spoke on behalf of other development partners, expressed their willingness to work with the Governor Bago-led administration to ensure a quality healthcare system in the state.
The upgrade of the central medical store is expected to be completed in four months.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The Niger State Government has said its three media organisations will witness an unprecedented turnaround.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hajiya Binta Mamman, disclosed this during the post-State Executive Council (SEC) briefing held at the Government House, Minna.
She identified four areas that would bring about the realisation of the "New Niger" agenda of the present administration.
The commissioner said social amenities, agriculture, a sustainable economy, good governance by engaging with the citizens, and urban renewal are the priority areas of the present administration.
The media agencies owned by the state include Newsline Newspaper, Radio Niger, and Niger State Television. The iconic media organisations have been in bad shape for a long time and are not performing to their capacity.
She said the governor has instructed the ministry of information to relocate to Radio House along Shiroro Road, the ministry of water resources to move to the Water and Sewage Corporation, and the ministry of environment to re-introduce monthly sanitation in the state.
She said the Umaru Bago-led administration was determined to change the narrative in the state; hence, some measures have been adopted.
The commissioner explained that the governor has directed the commissioner for mineral resources, Alh. Garba Sabo Yahaya, to ensure immediate implementation of the ban on all illegal mining activities and also to carry out verification on licenced miners to ensure compliance with regulations.
Hajiya Binta Mamman said the state government has authorised a waiver for the employment of qualified healthcare professionals to address the shortage of health workers in the state.
The commissioner for Lands and Survey, Barr. Maurice Magaji, disclosed that the state government will take advantage of the vast land in the state and its proximity to the Federal Capital, Abuja, for revenue generation, assuring that the N120 billion annual target of the state government was achievable.
Barr. Magaji said some of the strategies to be deployed by his ministry to boost revenue generation, especially in Minna, Suleja, Bida, Kontagora, and New Bussa, were payment of ground rent, consent fees, and transfer of ownership fees, among others.
The commissioner added that henceforth land must be developed to a reasonable level before C of O will be given, especially in the major cities of the state.
The commissioner for industry, trade, and investment, Alh. Aminu Suleiman Takuma, explained that the administration of Governor Bago was in discussion with foreign and domestic direct investors towards achieving a sustainable economy, with special emphasis on an investment inflow strategy to boost revenue generation in the state.
The commissioner, who noted that the business environment in Niger State was not where it was supposed to be, said his ministry will collaborate with all the local government areas to ensure efforts are made towards creating an enabling environment for business.
He said the state government, through his ministry, will ensure wealth and jobs are created for the growing youth population in the state and that all government facilities are put to proper use to avoid wastage.